MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Even when things appear to be falling
their way, the Denver Nuggets find a way to lose on the road.

Joe Smith scored 12 of his season-high 26 points during the
decisive third quarter as the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a
nine-point halftime deficit for a 109-92 rout of the road-weary
Nuggets.

Nick Van Exel's running 35-foot banker at the halftime buzzer
gave Denver a 63-54 lead and an apparent chokehold on momentum
after its 114-105 home triumph over Minnesota on Friday.

But 12 minutes later, the Nuggets were staring at an 87-79
deficit and their 82nd road loss in 87 games as the Timberwolves
rallied for its second straight win after a three-game losing
streak.

Smith, making his first start of the season, came out blazing in
the third quarter. The 6-10 forward assisted on frontcourt mate
Kevin Garnett's layup before scoring 12 of his team's next 23
points to give Minnesota the lead for good, 79-77, with 2:10 to
go in the period.

"It's been a while since I had this much fun," Smith said. "We
went out, played hard and had fun as a team. It was a big win
for us, which made the game that much more fun for me. In the
second half we stepped it up on defense."

Smith started at center in place of second-year pivotman
Radoslav Nesterovic and hit 12-of-16 shots, including 11
straight during the second and third periods.

"I found out (I was starting) right before the game," Smith
said. "It was a surprise because I thought we were going to go
with Dean (Garrett). I was actually shocked. I wanted to show
that no matter when they played me, I would be ready. It was a
huge boost to my confidence."

Terrell Brandon and Malik Sealy scored 18 points apiece for the
Timberwolves, who have won 11 of the last 13 meetings from
Denver.

"We buckled down in the second half," Sealy said. "They shot
the lights out in the first half, Nick was hitting (3-pointers)
while he was falling down. They were hitting from everywhere."

The Nuggets connected on 22-of-38 shots in the first half, but
shot poorly thereafter.

Ron Mercer and Antonio McDyess scored 16 points each for Denver,
which remained winless in five road games this season and eight
straight dating to the lockout-shortened campaign.

Van Exel finished with 14 points, but managed just five after
the half. His running, double-pump jumper banked in just prior
to the half, but proved to be the last highlight of the night
for the Nuggets.

Center Raef LaFrentz was held to 11 points by Smith, but did
grab nine rebounds to lead the Nuggets to a 46-37 advantage on
the boards.

"There was a lid on the basket in the second half," LaFrentz
said. "We shot the ball real poorly and that was the difference
in the game."

Keon Clark and Roy Rogers came off the bench to score 10 points
each for the Nuggets, who shot 39 percent (31-of-80) and managed
just 29 second-half points.

"We had balanced scoring, rebounds and assists," Garnett said.
"Malik and Joe both had great nights. I was really happy to see
other guys have good nights. They were able to step up."

The Nuggets were outscored, 33-16, in the third period and were
lucky that the damage was not worse as Smith was unstoppable. He
hit a 16-foot jumper, a layup, two free throws and running
jumper on consecutive trips to pull the Wolves within 68-65 with
7:29 remaining in the third quarter.

Anthony Peeler's 13-footer cut the deficit to one before Smith
sank a seven-foot hook to put Denver in front, 69-68, with 6:14
left.

Van Exel answered with a running jumper, but Peeler hit two free
throws and a 3-pointer to make it 74-70. Mercer and McDyess hit
back-to-back jumpers to knot the score with 4:15 left in the
period.

"These were two young teams that are definitely hungry and going
out at each other," Van Exel said. "So far, both teams have
held their home court, so somebody has to win on the road."

Brandon made a layup and Rogers completed a three-point play
before Smith's 16-footer thrust Minnesota ahead to stay, 78-77,
with 2:39 left in the third quarter.

"Joe Smith would be an All-Star if he played against the Denver
Nuggets every night," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "I remember
the first game he played as a Timberwolf last year. I think he
got 32 or 34 against us in the opener in Denver. It's a variety
of shots. He's scoring inside, he's scoring from the perimeter
and they kept going right back to him."

That basket sparked a 9-0 run capped by Bobby Jackson's
17-footer that opened an 85-77 cushion 26 seconds before the
final period.

Smith averaged 22 points in two meetings with the Nuggets during
the lockout-shortened campaign -- his first in Minnesota.

"It never fails," Sealy added. "(Smith) has a big game ever
since he's been in Minnesota and I've been in Denver. He comes
out and has a big game -- a 20-point game or a 30-point game."